Brian Meehan's Assistant Trainer Rory O'Dowd has won the Leadership prize at the thirteenth annual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards. The winners were invited to a reception at the Houses of Parliament.

O'Dowd was one of three people nominated for what is the premier accolade of the Godolphin awards, which are run by the British Horseracing Authority.

The winner received a £5,000 prize with an additional £5,000 going to the winner's stables.

O'Dowd has been part of the racing industry for thirty years and has been at Manton as Assistant Trainer for nine years.

At the Westminster reception he was welcomed by Claire Perry MP: “It was a real pleasure to meet Rory O’Dowd in Westminster and to hear that he won the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Leadership Award.'

"It’s so satisfying to hear of our local successes and to know that we have some of the best in the racing business living and working in the Devizes Constituency."

"Horse racing is a hugely valuable industry in our local economy and the racing stables in the Constituency employ hundreds of people; while nationally horse racing generates almost £4 billion in revenue, in fact it is the second best attended spectator sport in the UK after football.”